Holiday decorating is in full swing, and as homeowners deck their halls, they may want to also use the festivities as an excuse to inspect several out-of-sight areas of their home.

Groundworks, a basement and foundations firm, offers up tips to spot needed repairs in the home while also hanging your holiday decor. Here are the top seven home issues they suggest looking for:

Electrical outlets

Is a plug no longer working? Outdoor outlets are exposed to the elements and can become damaged. A ground fault circuit interrupter may have been tripped. Take precautions if you find any loose connections or exposed wiring.

Circuit breakers

While installing an outdoor light display, homeowners may discover problems with the home’s electrical system or circuit breaker box. “Some homeowners may only check out their electrical panel if they accidentally throw a breaker,” GroundWorks says. “However, proactive homeowners may want to look at their breaker box before installing holiday lights. You may discover that you need a diagram of which circuits are connected to which outlets or appliances. This can help you avoid overloading a single circuit.” LED Christmas lights tend to use less electricity and may help avoid blown fuses.

Overgrown shrubs

Plants should be about two feet from your house to protect your foundation. Tend to any overgrown plants while hanging holiday lights, or make a note on your calendar to do so in March or April. “If you have overgrown evergreens, you can also give them a light trim around the holidays and use that greenery for home decorations,” Groundworks says.

The roof or gutters

If you’re on a ladder to hang Christmas lights, be sure to take a look at the roof and gutters. Are the gutters clogged? Is rainwater pooling right next to the foundation? Are any shingles missing on your roof? Spot existing damage and avoid creating more problems by using light clips on the edge of your gutter while hanging Christmas lights, GroundWorks suggests.

Chimney

Take a close look at the chimney. Does it look like it’s tilting or starting to separate from the house? This could be a sign of foundation issues. To test it, Groundworks suggests, hold a string with a small weight from the top edge of the house. The string will always fall straight down. Compare that to the structure to determine whether there is a tilt to any portion of the home, including the chimney. A tilting chimney may show a visible gap where it is pulling away from the remainder of the house, Groundworks says. A foundation expert may need to identify the problems and explore the best ways to fix them.

Pest damage

You may also spot damage from pests. “Along the eaves, you could find woodpecker holes or wasp nests,” Groundworks says. “Where the house meets the ground, you could find signs of termites or ants.”

Siding damage or wood rot

Look for any signs of deterioration, damage, or wood rot on your siding or window frames. If you find any, your home could be vulnerable to water damage. “In the warmer months, your home could be unprotected from heavy rains, resulting in flooding or moisture in your basement or crawl space,” Groundworks warns. “As the weather turns cold, the damaged siding could allow water inside the walls, cracking the concrete when it freezes.”

Imagine…everything you need in one place.

A Holiday Handbook !

Instead of jotting important notes on backs of envelopes and clipping out ideas then losing them in a pile of paper your Holiday Handbook will be the one place to keep everything together and organized.

You’ll need:

·        One 1″ three-ring binder

·        Lined paper for notes and lists

·        Three holes punched folders

·        Sticky notes

·        Zipper pencil pouch

Yes, you can start even if you do not have all the items on the list. Grab a file folder and start collecting the items, when you get the binder transfer the items.

I use this to start collecting recipes and decorating ideas. I personally have 2.

One for Thanksgiving dinner and the other one for Christmas.
My tastes change from Christmas to Christmas for decorating and trying out recipes so I started making these about three years ago and it’s interesting to look back.

I’m thinking of starting a Halloween book this year. How about Easter? Fourth of July? etc.

Enjoy.

Simplify and Savor the Holidays

This is the time every year that I start using my Holiday Handbook on a daily basis to keep my thoughts, lists and paperwork organized.

I've set up my handbook in a three ring binder. My dividers are notes/lists, christmas, recipes,thanksgiving, recipes and storage.

This is the perfect place to make a few quick notes. I make a note what went right and what you'd like to repeat (and not repeat) next Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Did I have enough food? Too much food? What did I forget? What recipes were a hit? Which should never be made again? How did the turkey turn out? How did I set the table? How was the traffic? Did I time things well? I also take photos of the table setting jsut to remember.

And most importantly I make notes about what and where I stored items I willl need again a year from now; because I am forever putting stuff away and then forget where I put it. Especially items that I only uses for the holidays I store in the attic and the attic trolls hide away on me. 

I hope this can help you for your holiday planning year afeter year.

Just as an aside, I also have a separate looseleaf that holds all my holiday recipes. Those I made and loved and then a separate section of those I would like to try. these usually are magazine cut outs that I find I want to try. So when I feel the urge to try something I go into this binder.

Red Bank Red Bank , NJ

Rock 'n Roll with Holiday Express in concert and see the town of Red Bank light up for the holidays.

FAIR HAVEN — The Fair Haven PTA will host the semiannual house tour on Friday, Dec. 10. The Fair Haven First Floors House Tour is one of the key fundraisers for the Fair Haven School District. Each year it draws approximately 400 community members.

The 2010 holiday tour features seven distinctive Fair Haven homes, including a restored 1897 clapboard home; a 2010 shore colonial, featuring state-of-the-art detailing inside and out; a classic, craftsman style home; a custom colonial with both modern and antique furnishings; an 1810 cottage with river views and more.

Each home will feature a special holiday theme, including a “natural” Christmas, a holiday open house, New Year’s Eve, the Super Bowl, and others. Tourgoers will sample some of the best local fare from popular chefs, including David Burke’s Fromagerie of Rumson, Doris and Ed’s of Highlands, Bay Avenue Trattoria of Highlands, Lusty Lobster of Highlands, Cups and Cakes of Rumson, Fair Haven’s Taste and Technique, and a special food preparation presentation from student chefs at Monmouth County Vocational Culinary School.

Two special raffle prizes will be offered. The grand prize features dinner for 10 by Chef Hernan Graces of the Raven Tea Room prepared in the winner’s home or other local home of choice. The dinner includes wine, flowers, dessert and service. Tickets for the grand prize are $10 each. The first prize is this year’s most sought-after piece of technology, the iPad. First-prize tickets are $5 each.

Proceeds from this tour are used to support the educational programs in the Fair Haven school system. The mission of the Fair Haven PTA is to promote the welfare, safety and educational development of Fair Haven’s children in the home, school and community through the cooperative efforts of parents and teachers.

Tickets can be reserved in advance by Nov. 24 for $45 per ticket, by reserving on-line at www.fairhavenpta.com/housetour. html or by mailing a check made out to the Fair Haven PTA to Erin Simpson, reservations chair, 512 Ridge Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704. Tickets will be sold the day of the tour at 1 South Woodland Drive and at 168 Grange Ave., for $50 each, beginning at 10:30 a.m. No children will be allowed on the tour, and participants will be asked to remove their shoes. For more information, or to support the Fair Haven PTA, contact house tour chairs Laurie Bratone at 732-758-9169 or Heather Boyle at 732-450-0596, or visit www.fairhavenpta.com.

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Getting in the holiday spirit is easy this season when you mark your calendar for these merry Mid-Atlantic events.

 A land where stories light up the imagination
Fantasy With Lights
November 13–December 30 (weather permitting) Kids of all ages are sure to say “wow” when Storybook Land becomes aglow in thousands of lights in this outdoor holiday display that has become a regional tradition. Kids can watch Santa light up the park each night at dusk with a simple wave of his wand and also visit with Santa and the Mrs. in their decorated chalet, beginning with their grand arrival on November 13 rain date: November 14) through December 23.
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
609/641-7847 or 609/646-0103 (extension 5); storybookland.com

The place to see flowers, fountains and figure eights
A Longwood Gardens Christmas
November 25–January 9
Flowers and fountains are elevated to an art form in this annual holiday display featuring thousands of poinsettias and decorated trees inside—where you can catch a seasonal concert—and dancing fountains and some 500,000 lights strung on trees outside, where professional ice skaters perform under the stars. Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
610/388-1000 or 800/737-5500; longwoodgardens.org

Now in its 16th year the Union Square Holiday Market is modeled after the European style markets. Union Square market seems to be filled with local artisans and crafts people.

There are other markets as well for those who prefer the Upper West Side by central park and a stroll away from Lincoln Center. This market is in it's 7th year and it features original handmade, recycled and organic gifts and decorations.

My favorite market is Holiday Shops at Bryant Park and I can't wait for it to get cold and go there, window shop, look at the skaters and drink some mulled  wine.

Below are the markets and the times that they start as well as the website if they have one.

Union Square Holiday Market
South end of Union Square at West 14th Street
November 19–December 24
Open daily 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
(Closed Thanksgiving Day)

Columbus Circle Holiday Market
Southwest entrance to Central Park
December 1–December 24
Open daily 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Holiday Shops at Bryant Park
Between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and 40th and 42nd Streets
212/768-4242
bryantpark.org

Grand Central Holiday Terminal
Grand Central Terminal, Lexington Avenue at 42nd Street
212/340-2345
grandcentralterminal.com

Holiday Gift Shops at St. Bartholemew’s
325 Park Avenue
212/378-0222
stbarts.org

This was a hoot and wanted to share with you.

As the economy worsens, visits to food pantries have increased, and food donations have dwindled. Our shelves are bare.

 Please Donate Food During the Holiday Season

Perishable

Frozen Turkeys

Canned or Fresh Hams

Nonperishable

Ready-to-eat Canned Meals

Canned Sweet Potatoes or Yams

Canned Vegetables

Canned Fruits

Stuffing and Gravy

Cranberry Sauce (Jellied)

Tuna

Peanut Butter & Jelly

Instant Potatoes

Rice

Macaroni & Cheese

Canned Juices & Sip-size Juices

Canned and Dry Soup